Learn with Dr. Emily

Neurodivergent students face more challenges at school than their neurotypical peers. They are led through a standardized curriculum that doesn’t always match their variable learning profile. For some, this will build character and grit, while others may feel helpless and lose their motivation. This often looks like they don’t care, but they do.

All children care, but they might let go of their effort because the learning doesn’t feel attainable to them. In other words, it’s easier to “not care” than to continue trying and failing.

We must make learning feel attainable to every student by incorporating their interests and building their trust so learning feels relevant to them.

Welcome to Learn with Dr. Emily, the podcast. Where parents and teachers come together for neurodivergent youth. I’m your host, Dr. Emily King, child psychologist and former school psychologist specializing in raising and teaching children and teens diagnosed with autism, ADHD, anxiety, learning disabilities, and/or giftedness. Each week, I share my thoughts on a topic related to psychology, parenting, education, or parent-teacher collaboration, which you can read on my blog or listen here.

If you want to learn more about me and my online resources for parents and teachers, visit www.learnwithdremily.com. Let’s get started.

Parents, you will notice that for the next four weeks I’m going to be talking directly to teachers. I invite you to stay on to read and listen. The reason I change my focus at times is so that parents can hear things from a teacher’s perspective and teachers can hear things from a parent’s perspective. Sharing our stories and perspectives is the foundation of effective collaboration. I hope you stay for it all.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learnwithdremily.substack.com

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In my work with parents raising neurodivergent kids, one of the most common questions I get is, “How do I know what is their disability and what is just refusal?” We have to remember that when children (and adults) refuse to do something, there is usually a reason beyond leaving the person who is asking feeling frustrated. When a child resists a task they are often fatigued, unmotivated, disinterested, or the task is too hard or too fast.

Learn more at www.learnwithdremily.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learnwithdremily.substack.com

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Parenting On Your Own Path Course
Online Course for Elementary Teachers
Bring Dr. Emily to Your School
Summer Workshops

Every teacher we meet this school year has said, “Yes” to returning to work. Trust me, they thought about their job, their profession, and their calling. They considered their options. And, they said, “Yes.” They want to be here and they want the best for our children. So, let's work together. Here's how. Find all of Dr. Emily's resources for teachers and parents at www.learnwithdremily.com.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learnwithdremily.substack.com

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Parenting On Your Own Path Course
Online Course for Elementary Teachers
Bring Dr. Emily to Your School
Summer Workshops

Today we're sharing an episode from an awesome parenting podcast called Motherhood Unstressed with Liz Carlisle. This conversation with author Jenn Granneman on working with highly sensitive people and what superpowers they possess is fantastic, so I know you'll enjoy it.

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You’re too sensitive. You’re overreacting. Grow a thicker skin. You take everything so personally.

We hear these comments all too often. There’s no denying sensitivity is surrounded by stigma. We discourage it in our children, judge it in our peers, and ultimately weaponize it in our relationships with colleagues and family members. While it’s not widely understood by the public, sensitivity is an essential human trait. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 people arehighly sensitive individuals, and without them, we would not have the theory of evolution, the Declaration of Independence, or Netflix.

Jenn Granneman and Andre Sólo are the force behind the world’s largest online communities for sensitive people and introverts, Sensitive Refuge and Introvert, Dear. And they’re on a mission to break the negative stigma surrounding sensitivity in their forthcoming book, SENSITIVE (on sale 2/28), unveiling the hidden power of highly sensitivepeople (HSPs) in our loud, fast, and too-much world.

Weaving together actionable advice, relatable anecdotes, and the latest scientific research, SENSITIVE shows readers how leaning into their sensitivity can unlock a powerful “boost effect” to launch them ahead in life. Presenting the empowering idea that sensitivity gives you access to five distinct gifts, Granneman and Sólo offers the tools and insights you need to embrace this undervalued strength and leverage it across the most important areas of your life.

In this episode Jenn is revealing:

A clear picture of what it really means to be sensitive and what strengths sensitive people bring to the world

What makes the sensitive brain different — and how it’s wired to go deep

How the needs of sensitive people differ from those of less sensitive people and people with autism

How to transform one of the misunderstood gifts of sensitive people—empathy into a source of world-changing strength

The common misconceptions about sensitive children—and their secret advantage

The powerful traits of sensitive leaders, who are often the most effective leaders of all

Are you highly sensitive? Take Dr. Elaine N. Erickson's Test: https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/

Connect with Jenn:

https://introvertdear.com

https://highlysensitiverefuge.com

Twitter @JennGranneman

Instagram @introvertdear

Facebook @introvertdearblog

Read Sensitive https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593235010/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_4W1R40JWNN6EB1ZN918D?linkCode=ml1&tag=unstressed02-20

Get the book Motherhood Unstressed - Daily Meditations on Motherhood, Self-Care, and the Art of Living a Life You Love available on Amazon and Kindle

Subscribe to The Motherhood Unstressed Podcast

Instagram @motherhoodunstressed

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Sign up for Dr. Emily's weekly newsletter at www.learnwithdremily.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learnwithdremily.substack.com.

Learn with Dr. Emily is edited by Earfluence.

Helpful Resources
Parent Workshops - https://learnwithdremily.substack...

Many of you know that Dr. Mona Delahooke suffered a brain aneurysm about two months ago and has been fighting hard in her recovery ever since. Her family shared last week that she has regained consciousness (!) but that there is still a long road to recovery.

So please join me in wishing Mona well today as we lift up her work through the magic of podcast sharing while she continues to rest and recover.

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Educators, it's time to shift our mindset by understanding what polyvagal theory, the importance of brain-body connection, and how we can better support our children.

We all know that the fields of psychology and education still haven’t fully integrated the wisdom we’re learning from research and neuroscience, and often rely on methods that seek to alter kids behavior through rewards and consequences. Once we acknowledge that behaviors, though, are meaningful and protective adaptations to a child’s internal experience, we can create a whole new range of compassionate and individually tailored options that surpass just managing behaviors.

So today, Dr. Mona Delahooke explains polyvagal theory and the paradigm shift that could be so helpful for parents and educators to make.

About Our Guest

Dr. Mona Delahooke is a best-selling author and child psychologist who aims to reduce suffering and increase resilience for children and families. Her paradigm-shifting model offers a new way of understanding emotional and behavioral challenges, incorporating the latest neuroscience and resilience research to support relationships. Dr. Delahooke is challenging the education system to update its practices from focusing on behavior to promoting relational safety.
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Sign up for Dr. Emily's weekly newsletter at www.learnwithdremily.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learnwithdremily.substack.com.

Learn with Dr. Emily is edited by Earfluence.

Helpful Resources
Parent Workshops - https://learnwithdremily.substack.com/s/parent-workshops
Professional Development - Bring Dr. Emily to Your School - https://www.learnwithdremily.com/schools